Minnesota Vikings: Rapid reaction

This is a quick postgame reaction. My full column on this dream season will be on startribune.com later and in the Monday paper.

Atlanta -

After beating Cleveland in London, the Vikings enjoyed their bye week, then began a streak of five games that would either prove their worth or ruin their season. Four games into that five-game stretch, the Vikings have proved they are one of the NFL’s best teams, and that they have no reason to hide from quality competition.

They have beaten Washington on the road, the Rams at home, the Lions on the road and now the Falcons in Atlanta, after a 14-9 victory on Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The Vikings improved to 10-2 and beat another NFC contender, doing so more methodically than spectacularly, which is allowed.

The five-game test ends this Sunday at Carolina against another NFC contender. The reality of the Vikings’ eight-game winning streak is that they have reached a point where they can afford to lose.

Unless they want the first seed in the NFC, and the potential of all of their postseason games being played in U.S. Bank Stadium.